THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE Spoken WORD. OR IS IT?
The purpose of all language is to communicate - that is, to move thoughts or information from one person to another person.
There are always at least two people in any communication. To
communicate, one person must put something "out" and another person must
take something "in". We call this "output" (>>>) and "input"
(<<<).
- I
speak to you (OUTPUT: my thoughts go OUT of my head).
- You
listen to me (INPUT: my thoughts go INto your head).
- You
write to me (OUTPUT: your thoughts go OUT of your head).
- I
read your words (INPUT: your thoughts go INto my head).
So language consists of four "skills": two for output (speaking and
writing); and two for input (listening and reading. We can say this
another way - two of the skills are for "spoken" communication and two
of the skills are for "written" communication:
Spoken:
>>> Speaking - mouth
<<< Listening - ear
Written:
>>> Writing - hand
<<< Reading - eye
What are the differences between Spoken and Written English? Are
there advantages and disadvantages for each form of communication?
Status
When we learn our own (native) language, learning to speak comes
before learning to write. In fact, we learn to speak almost
automatically. It is natural. But somebody must
teach us to
write. It is not natural. In one sense, speaking is the "real" language
and writing is only a representation of speaking. However, for
centuries, people have regarded writing as superior to speaking. It has a
higher "status". This is perhaps because in the past almost everybody
could speak but only a few people could write. But as we shall see,
modern influences are changing the relative status of speaking and
writing.
Differences in Structure and Style
We usually write with correct grammar and in a structured way. We
organize what we write into sentences and paragraphs. We do not usually
use contractions in writing (though if we want to appear very friendly,
then we do sometimes use contractions in writing because this is more
like speaking.) We use more formal vocabulary in writing (for example,
we might write "the car exploded" but say "the car blew up") and we do
not usually use slang. In writing, we must use punctuation marks like
commas and question marks (as a symbolic way of representing things like
pauses or tone of voice in speaking).
We usually speak in a much less formal, less structured way. We do
not always use full sentences and correct grammar. The vocabulary that
we use is more familiar and may include slang. We usually speak in a
spontaneous way, without preparation, so we have to make up what we say
as we go. This means that we often repeat ourselves or go off the
subject. However, when we speak, other aspects are present that are not
present in writing, such as facial expression or tone of voice. This
means that we can communicate at several levels, not only with words.
Durability
One important difference between speaking and writing is that writing
is usually more durable or permanent. When we speak, our words live for
a few moments. When we write, our words may live for years or even
centuries. This is why writing is usually used to provide a record of
events, for example a business agreement or transaction.
Speaker & Listener / Writer & Reader
When we speak, we usually need to be in the same place and time as
the other person. Despite this restriction, speaking does have the
advantage that the speaker receives instant feedback from the listener.
The speaker can probably see immediately if the listener is bored or
does not understand something, and can then modify what he or she is
saying.
When we write, our words are usually read by another person in a
different place and at a different time. Indeed, they can be read by
many
other people, anywhere and at any time. And the people reading our
words, can do so at their leisure, slowly or fast. They can re-read what
we write, too. But the writer cannot receive immediate feedback and
cannot (easily) change what has been written.
How Speaking and Writing Influence Each Other
In the past, only a small number of people could write, but almost
everybody could speak. Because their words were not widely recorded,
there were many variations in the way they spoke, with different
vocabulary and dialects in different regions. Today, almost everybody
can speak
and write. Because writing is recorded and more
permanent, this has influenced the way that people speak, so that many
regional dialects and words have disappeared. (It may seem that there
are already too many differences that have to be learned, but without
writing there would be far more differences, even between, for example,
British and American English.) So writing has had an important influence
on speaking. But speaking can also influence writing. For example, most
new words enter a language through speaking. Some of them do not live
long. If you begin to see these words in writing it usually means that
they have become "real words" within the language and have a certain
amount of permanence.
Influence of New Technology
Modern inventions such as sound recording, telephone, radio,
television, fax or email have made or are making an important impact on
both speaking and writing. To some extent, the divisions between
speaking and writing are becoming blurred. Emails are often written in a
much less formal way than is usual in writing. With voice recording,
for example, it has for a long time been possible to speak to somebody
who is not in the same place or time as you (even though this is a
one-way communication: we can speak or listen, but not interact). With
the telephone and radiotelephone, however, it became possible for two
people to carry on a conversation while not being in the same place.
Today, the distinctions are increasingly vague, so that we may have, for
example, a live television broadcast with a mixture of recordings,
telephone calls, incoming faxes and emails and so on. One effect of this
new technology and the modern universality of writing has been to raise
the status of speaking. Politicians who cannot organize their thoughts
and
speak well on television win very few votes.
English Checker
- aspect: a particular part or feature of something
- dialect: a form of a language used in a specific region
- formal: following a set of rules; structured; official
- status: level or rank in a society
- spontaneous: not planned; unprepared
- structured: organized; systematic
Note: instead of "spoken", some people say "oral" (relating to the mouth) or "aural" (relating to the ear).
